Flectric receptacle



J. W. PHELPS ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE Dec. 4, 1928.

Original Filed May 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 Dec. 4, 1928.

J. W. PHELPS ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE 3 Sheets-Shut 2 Original Filed May 24, 1924 Dec. 4, 1928.

J. w. PHELPS ELECTRIC HECEPTACLE Original Filed may 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Shoot 3 mun I'- llllllllllllllh-i Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

v UNITED STATES JAMES W. PHELPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC RECEPTACLE.

Application filed May 24, 1924, SerialNo 715,556/ Renewed February 3, 1927,.

My invention relates to improvements in electric lamp socket receptacles of the kind equipped with a thermoelectric element for causing the lamp to flash.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic receptacle of this character which shall be very simple in construction and parts, and which shall include all the necessary elements for the production of a practical operative flashing receptacle.

A particular feature of my invention relates to the securing of the metal socket and the thermostatic element by a single fastener and the placement of said element in the base where it is amply protected.

My invention will be morereadily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of the recep tacle; I

Figure 2, is a central vertical section on the line 22 of Figure 3; i I

Figure 3, is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

YFigure 4, is a bottom plan View;

Figure 5, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; a y c Figure 6, is a diagram of theelectric circuit;

Figure 7, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 7-7 of Figure 4, showing a series winding on the thermo element; a

Figure 8, is a view similar to Figure 7 and showing a shunt winding on the thermo element Figurei), 1s a view similar to Figure 2 and showing a slight modification;

Figure 10, is a horizontal section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11, is a bottom planview of the modified form of receptacle;

Figure 12. is a diagram of the cirruil. showing a shuntwinding thermo element;

Figure 13, is a horizontal section similar to Figure 3, on the line 13-43 of Figure 15, and showing a slightly modified form of my improved receptacle;

Figures 14, and 16, are vertical sections on the lines 14-14, 15-15 and 16--16, re-

electric on the V spectivcly, of Figure 13;

Figure 17, is 'a-bottom plan view of the receptacle, shown in Figure 13; and

Figure 18, is a diagram, showing the preferred circuit employed in this modified form of receptacle. 7

In said drawings, 15 illustrates a receptacle having a base portion 16 and an upstandmg central-socket portion 17. In the socket portion is arranged a screw threaded shell 18 of usual form for receiving the usual screw threaded lamp base or similar connecting device. The base 16 is hollowed out beneath, as shown at 19, for the reception of the connections and the thermo element. The base, as usual, has perforated securing lugs 20, and between them connection supporting lugs 21 and 22.

The shell 18 has internal flange portions 23 at its lower end for securing the shell in place and, in the form shown in Figures to 5, I provide a Y-shaped connecting mem ber 24, the stem of which projects through an opening in the sidewall of the socket portion at its base and lies on top of the supporting lug21. The opposite end is formed to fit within the base of the socket and the two arms 26 thereoflie on top of the two flanges 23, and this connection is secured in place by two screws 27 which rise through suitable openings in the bottom wall 28 of the socket portion17, the points of the screws being secured in threaded openings provided in the arms 26. By this means the shell 18 is held in place and the circuit is established between theconnection 24 and the shell. The outer end of the connection carries a binding screw 29 for the circuit wire '30. To form the other side of the circuit, I provide a centralrscrew 31 which extends down through the bottom wall 28 and a nut 32 on its lower end serves to hold the screw in place,

I arrange a thermo element 33 in the space 19 of the hollow base, and in the form being described thiselement consists of a bi-Ine-' tallic strip 33 clamped in place by the nut on the screw 31, the strip being provided with a hole larger than the screw and insulated therefrom by an insulation washer 34. The thermo element has a heating coil 35 wound on the bi-metallic strip, and .I clamp one end of this coil beneath the nut 32 providing a metallic washer 36 for use between the nut and the insulation washer 34, beneath which the end of the wire is firmly held, thus electrically connectingthe wire to the central screw 31. The opposite end of the coil is soldered to the free end of the bi-metallic strip at 37. A

Upon the connection lug 22 I secure a connection plate 38 which carries an adjustable contact screw 39, the point of which contacts with the free end of the thermo element to permit the current to pass through the device. As shown in the electric diagram, Figure 6, the current enters at the binding screw 29, passes to the shell and to the. lamp, returning through the center screw 31 and through the heating coil on the thermo element and out by way of the contact screw 39 and plate 38 which carries a suitable binding screw it). The coil illustrated is in series with the lamp and is of low resistance so that when the current flows it not only lights the lamp but also heats the thermo element. The heating of element causes the bi-mctallic strip to move away from the screw 39 and tl u the

open the circuit, thus causing; tl 2 light to no out. l i hen the rmo element cools d' the bi-metallic strip swin heel: i nto c: with the screw and If n lights the l hip.

The manner of connecting the heating coil thus Lar described what is: known as it: rics, and in Figure 8 I have illustrated a shunt connection. In this instance the lil-lILQtLJH-Q strip s electric-e L connected to the c tral screw, l eing clamped by the nut 3:2 without any insulation between. As in the other form one end of the heating coil 33 is connected to the bi-metallic strip at 37, and the other end instead of being electrically connected to the center screw, as before, is connected directly to the connection plate as by being clamped beneath the binding screw 40. hen this shunt arrangement is used the bi-metallic strip normally is out of con tact with the adjusting screw 39, and when the current is turned on the strip moves into contact with the screw 39, thus closing the main circuit, and the current is shunted Irom the coil, thus allowing it to cool down and open the circuit again.

In the form of my device illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, I hate shown a shunt coil on the heating element, showing that either type is capable of being used. In this form instead of using a Y-iorm of connection for bringing in the current, I use a straight strip 41 and bind it directly under the head of the center screw 4- and the shell is held in place by two screws H which pass through segmental flanges at the boltom of the shell.

he bi-mctallic strip s16 of the thermo clc ment is held by having one end clamped beneath the holding nut 47 of one of the screws ll. In the form shown in Figure 9, I have illustrated a series connection for the coil 48 ot the thermo element. One end of the coil is electrically connected to the screw 44 by being clamped beneath the nut 47, and the other end is soldered to the bi-mctallic strip at $9. The secured end of the bianetallic strip is insulated from the screw 1-4: by a suitable insulation washer 50. As in the other instance I provide an adj Listing contact screw 51 carried by a contact plate which carries a binding post The othe binding post is carried by the outer end of the contact place ll. As shown in Figure 1" be current enters at the binding post 5- pr to the lamp through the center screw 42, than to the shell .43 and through the screw l-lto the bi-n'ieta lic strip through the coil to the con t ct plate and the thermostatic element heatc i and caused to close the main circuit :it the contact screw, thus causing the lamp to light. As soon as this occurs the current shunted from the coil, the element ind again opens the circuit.

Figures 13 to 18, inclusive, I have shown an exccedingl y simple form (it receptacle. In this in I have added the thermostatic circuit n alte to. what might be termed. the usual or ord nary receptacle, without the addition of a sir 'le screw, except the timing contact rt; h a part of the thernio-ztatic device. In. this form I preferably I body 55 so that the connecting bindand :37 are set substantially 90 other for a reason to be explained. The usual threaded socket 18 is held in the body by screws or bolts 58 and 59, the socket 18 having the usual part base flanges for receiving the screws. Between the flanges 4-5 I provide a raised central j'irojection on the base of the body, and to form the central terminal I provide a fiat contact strip 6i, which is projected into the socket part of the body through an opening 62 in its side wall, adjacent to the bottom of the socket, and is formed up at its inner end to lie flaton the top of the central projection 60. This contact strip is held in place by the screw which forms the binding post 56 and which passes up through the base, and has a clamping nut (34 on its upper end. The upper end of the bolt 56 extends above the nut 64 and receives another nut by which the circuit wire 66 is connected. The strip 61 its fairly tight cdgewise in the opening 62, and consequently the one clamping screw holds it firmly in position.

I make use of one of the screws which fastens the shell 18 in the body for securing and holding the thermostatic clement (37, preferably the screw which is 't'arllicsl. a from the binding post 57, so that the thermo element can be of maximum length, and for the purpose oi providing a thermo element of suflicient length to permit of a shunt winding on the thermo strip 67. The element 67 is secured at one end under the nut (58 on the lower end of the screw 58, that is, no part is added for securing this element. The other screw :39 is short and does not project down to interfere with the thermo element, although the element extends bencath same. For mounting the usual adjust lil l the'end oi the screw extends up to receive a second nut 7 3 for binding the other circuit wire 74. I preferably bend the free end 7 of the strip back over itself and provide registering threaded openingsiu the bent over part and the main part to receive the adjliistable contactscrew 69. By this means I am enabled to easily cause the screw 69 to be frictionally held in its adjusted position.

Preferably the thermo element is shunt wound, and normally the element 67 is free of the screw 69 when the current is be. The element 67 is the usual bi-metallic strip, and when the circuit is closed the shunt Winding 76, which is connected to the free end of the strip 67, at one end, and at the other end to the binding post 57, by being clamped beneath the strip 70, sufficient current passes through the lamp in the receptacle to heat the shunt winding and deflect the thermo strip into contact with the screw 69. This permits the current to flow direct instead of through the winding, thus causing the lamp to burn. Then the thermo element cools oti' and opens the circuit again.

It will be clear that I have reduced the partsand assembly to a minimum, that I have thereby reduced the manufacturing cost, that the thermo element being in the base is well protected against injury. In the second and third forms described, the thermo element can be somewhat longer than in the first form.

This is an advantage, as it permits a wider field of adjustment.

As many modifications of my invention will doubtless suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine 'my invention to the specific details of construction or arrangement herein shown and described, except as within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a unitary body of insulation material presenting a socket upstanding from a base, a shell terminal and a central tern'iinal within the socket. an electric thermostat mounted within the base and secured at one endto one of said terminals by the same means which secures said terminal, a. connection plate mounted on the base, and means carried by said plate for contact with the opposite end of said thermostat.

2. In a device of the kind described, a lamp receptacle in the form of ,a socket upstanding from a base,a shell terminal and a central terminal in the socket, means extending through into the base portion for securing said te 'minals in position, a connection plate a. sum-aw secured to one of said terminals within the socket by its securing means and extending out over the base, a second connection plate secured on the'top ot' the base, an electric thermostat within the base secured in position at one end by the securing means of the other terminal, and means carried by said second connection plate and extending down into the base for contact with the free end oi the thermostat.

3. In a flashing receptacle, a socket, portion upstanding from a base, two terminals within the socket, means securing the terminals extending through into the base, a connection member above the base and extending into the socket, said connection member secured in position and connected to one of said terminals by its securing means, a second connection plate on the base, a bimetallic thermo element within the base secured at one end by the means securing the other terminal in position, and means carried by the second connection plate for contact with the free end of the thermo element, and a coil on the thermo element connected toheat same, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a receptacle of the kind described, a socket upstanding from a base, a central terminal secured within the socket, a connection plate extending over the base and within the socket and secured in position and to said central terminal b 1 the securing means of said terminal, a shell terminal within the socket, means extending down into the base seeming said shell in position, a thermo element within the base and secured at one end to and by the securing means of said shell, a second connection plate on the base, and means carried by said second plate for contact'with the free end of said thermo elei'nent, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulational material having a hollow base, a shell terminal and a central terminal secured upon the body, a flat thermo-electric make and break bar arranged in the hollow base extending transversely thereof and secured at one end only by the fastening means of one of the terminals.

6. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulation material having a hollow base, a shell terminal secured on the body, a thermo electric make and break bar arranged in the hollow base and rigidly mounted at one end by the shell fastening means. i

7. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulational material having a hollow base, a central terminal and a shell terminal secured to the body by screws extending into the base, and a Hat thermo-electric make and break bar arranged in and extending transversely of the hollow base and rigidly held at one end only by a screw which secures one of the terminals.

8. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulation material having a hollow llttfjt, a central ternnna-l and a shell terminal cured to the body hy screws; extending into the base and athernio electric make and break bar in the hollow base and rigidly held atone end by a screw Which secures the shell terminal.

9. In a device of the kind described, a body of insulation material having a hollow base, a shell terminal and a central terminal, means securing r d 5' ,rniinals upon said body, a

thermoelectric make and break bar in the hollow base, and elect rically conneettwl at one end to the shell terminal by the securing means thereof.

10. In a device ot the kind described. a hody of insulation material, a central terminal and a shell terminal secured to the hotly, an elm:- tric t-hern o-elenlent rttllllll on the body hy the means securing the shell terminal thereon.

In testimony whereof, I; have hereunto setmy hand, this Tth day of May, 193- JAMIELTS W. PHELPS. 

